Overall cover for water closets and flush bowls



cs. E. SUSER 2,749,968

OVERALL COVER FOR WATER CLOSETS AND FLUSH BOWLS June 12, 1956 Filed May 19, 1953 INVENTOR 5aalyeifi flzieg KW KTTORNEY nited States Patent OVERALL COVER FOR WATER CLOSETS AND FLUSH BOWLS George E. Suser, Baltimore, Md. Application May 19, 1953, Serial No. 355,898

4 Claims. (Cl. 155--1) The present invention relates generally to water closets and flush bowls, and more particularly to an enclosure therefor.

With the present functional and utilitarian approach to the design and construction of living quarters, furniture, and appurtenant fixtures, it is desired to construct bathroom fixtures in accordance with that trend. To this end, most bathroom fixtures have been modified in structure to accomplish maximum utilization of available space and minimum demands on maintenance and cleaning, as exemplified by built in bath tubs and shower stalls, recessed cabinets, and counter-enclosed wash basins. However, the water closet and flush bowl structure have, because of their inherent plumbing needs, not lent them selves to a functional and utilitarian construction in keeping with other bathroom fixtures. As a result, the modern bathroom with all its advances in design and construction must still contend with the same water closet and flush bowl construction, with its unsightly curves and recesses, exposed plumbing, hard to clean and dust collecting crevices and surfaces, and hard to reach areas, together with the attendant non-utilitarian waste of surrounding area.

It is therefore contemplated by the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages of the existing water closets and flush bowls while permitting the continued use of those closet and bowl structures found from experience to be most efficient and economical from the manufacturing viewpoint. By the present invention there is provided an overall cover for these structures which will impart thereto all the desirable attributes to functionalism and eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional construction.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an overall cover for conventional water closets and flush bowls which converts the appearance thereof to that of a substantially conventional bench and permits utilization thereof as a bench, provides uninterrupted smooth surfaces therefor, eliminates the difliculties of cleaning irregular and hard to reach areas, and, if desired, provides additional storage space from formerly unuseable areas surrounding the flush bowl.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description thereof had in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of another embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral in Fig. 1 generally designates the overall cover constituting one embodiment of the present invention, and is shown enclosing a conventional water closet 11 and flush bowl 12. The cover 10 may be formed of any desired suitable sheetlike structural material, such as enameled wood, porcelainized sheet metal, structural plastics, or plastic lamiice nates, as laminated fiber glass and plastic. In its general contour, it can be seen from the drawings that the cover is formed to provide the general characteristics of a bench, having a horizontal seat portion 14 and a vertical back 15. Supporting the seat and back portions are two vertical side panels 16 and a front panel 22. It will be noted that the union of the seat 14 with the front panel 22 is formed with a continuous smooth curve, and that as the front panel descends to the floor immediately from said curvature it recedes rearwardly from the forwardmost section of the seat to provide comfortable accommodation for the feet and legs of a seated person.

Further considering the seat portion 14 in detail, there is provided a substantially rectangular section 18, which may be cut out from the seat portion 14 and lies flush with the surface thereof, hinged at 20 to the main body portion of the cover 10. This section 18 functions as the flush bowl lid, and when elevated on its hinges provides access to the flush bowl. With this construction the conventional flush bowl lid normally associated with the bowl seat may be eliminated, although it may be retained if desired; however, the annular bowl seat 13 is retained in either event. As a further aspect of the lid 18, there is included therewith an appropriate part of the forward curvature 26 common to the seat 14 and front panel 22, so that when the lid 18 is elevated the resultant inner boundary of the seat and front panel provides adequate access to the annular bowl seat 13.

Considering additional aspects of the instant embodiment, the overall cover 10 is further provided with a top 17 to complete the enclosure of the water closet 11; and to enable ready access to the water closet for maintenance, this top may be hinged at 19 or otherwise removable. A suitable opening, not shown, is also provided in the vertical back panel 15 to enable the positioning of water closet flush control lever or handle 21 in front thereof. In addition, in order to permit maximum utilization of space enclosed by the overall cover 10 around the bowl 12, an access panel 23 may be provided in each side 16, hinged at 24 and having a handle 25.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2, and is substantially similar to the embodiment of Fig. 1, with the overall cover 10a comprising the horizontal seat portion 14a having a lid 18a, the vertical back panel 15a, two vertical side panels 16a, front panel 22a receding rearwardly from the seat portion, and the top 17a, to cover the Water closet. In this embodiment the length of the overall cover is substantially greater than that of the water closet, hence enabling the provision of two cabinets 27 on each side of the water closet with hinged doors 28 provided therefor in back panel 15a. Instead of cabinets 27, it is apparent that other storage facilities may be employed, such as drawers. As in the preceding embodiment, the embodiment of Fig. 2 may also be provided with a hinged access panel 23a in each vertical side 16a.

As is readily apparent, any conventional means may be employed for securing or bracketing the overall cover 10 to the bathroom wall and/or floor, if desired. However, since the cover is itself of stable construction, the flush control handle 21 would frequently suffice for retaining the cover in position, and if desired a suitable bushing (not shown) may be interposed between the handle 21 and panel 15 to maintain the desired spacing therebetween.

It can thus be seen that by the present invention there is provided an integral and unitary overall cover for conventional water closet and flush bowl structures which may be readily applied to existing installations without alteration thereof. By the present cover structure of fiat surfaces and substantially rectilinear contour, the multicurved and recessed closet and bowl surfaces are effectively removed from the bathroom, and the difficulties of cleaning such surfaces and hard to reach areas is eliminated. In addition, the present cover byits structure provides a convenient bathroom bench, and enables maximum utilization of heretofore unusable space surrounding existing water closet and fiush bowl structures.

The foregoing detailed description of two specific embodiments of the present invention is presented merely by way of example, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and such modifications as are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims are intended to be encompassed thereby.

I claim:

1, An overall cover for combined water closets and flush bowls comprising a substantially horizontal seat section, a substantially upright back section extending from and integral with the rear of said seat section, two substantially upright side sections integral with said seat and back sections, a front section depending from the forward portion of said seat section and integral with said seat and side sections, said side and front sections combining to support said seat and back sections to provide a bench-like structure, said seat and front sections coalescing through a rounded curvature with said front section receding rearwardly from said coalescence as it extends downwardly, said seat section having an opening therein to enable access to a flush bowl seat, and a lid hingedly secured to said cover to provide a closure for said opening and lying flush with said seat section when in closed position, said sections providing an integral unitary enclosure open in the rear and bottom areas so as to be readily positioned over an installed combined water closet and flush bowl, said cover thereby providing a bench and a unitary enclosure for combined water closet and flush bowl structures.

2. An overall cover for combined water closets and flush bowls comprising a substantially horizontal seat section, an upright back section extending from and integral with the rear of said seat section, two upright side sections integral with said seat and back sections, a front section depending from the forward portion of said seat sections and integral with said seat and side sections, said side and front sections combining to support said seat and back sections to provide a bench-like structure, said seat and front sections coalescing through a rounded curvature with said front section receding rearwardly from said coalescence as it extends downwardly, said seat section having an opening therein to enable access to a flush bowl seat, a lid hingedly secured to said cover to provide a closure for said opening and lying flush with said seat section when in closed position, and a top section hingedly secured to the cover across the tops of said side and back sections to complete the enclosure, each section, lid, and top having a substantially flat exterior surface to provide a substantially rectilinear contour to the overall cover, said sections providing an integral unitary enclosure open in the rear and bottom areas so as to be readily positioned over an installed combined water closet and flush bowl, said cover thereby providing a bench and a unitary enclosure for combined water closet and fiush bowl structures.

3. An overall cover for combined water closets and flush bowls comprising a substantially horizontal seat section, an upright back section extending from and integral with the rear of said seat section, two upright side sections integral with said seat and back sections, a front section depending from the forward portion of said seat section and integral with said seat and side sections, said side and front sections combining to support said seat and back sections to provide a bench-like structure, said seat and front sections coalescing through a rounded curvature with said front section receding rearwardly from said coalescence as it extends downwardly, said seat section having an opening therein of a size larger than a flush bowl seat to enable access to the latter, a lid hingedly secured to said cover to provide a closure for said opening and lying flush with said seat section when in closed position, a top section hingedly secured to the cover across the tops of said side and back sections to complete the enclosure, and an access panel incorporated in a side section, each section, panel, lid, and top having a substantially flat exterior surface to provide a substantially rectilinear contour to the overall cover, said sections providing an integral unitary enclosure open in the rear and bottom areas so as to be readily positioned over an installed combined water closet and flush bowl, said cover thereby providing a bench and a unitary enclosure for combined water closet and flush bowl structures.

4. An overall cover for combined water closets and flush bowls comprising a substantially horizontal seat section, an upright back section extending from and integral with the rear of said seat section, two upright side sections integral with said seat and back sections, a front section depending from the forward portion of said seat section and integral with said seat and side sections, said side and front sections combining to support said seat and back sections to provide a bench-like structure, said seat and front sections coalescing through a rounded curvature with said front section and receding rearwardly from said coalescence as it extends downwardly, said seat section having an opening therein to enable access to a flush bowl seat, a lid hingedly secured to said cover to provide a closure for said opening and lying flush with said seat section when in closed position, and means formed in said cover to enable access to the interior thereof, said sections providing an integral unitary enclosure open in the rear and bottom areas so as to be readily positioned over an installed combined water closet and flush bowl, said cover thereby providing a bench, a storage cabinet, and a unitary enclosure for combined water closet and flush bowl structures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,040 Heist Aug. 10, 1880 233,257 Klett Oct. 12, 1880 1,557,919 Zundel Oct. 20, 1925 2,287,657 Wisckol June 23, 1942 2,419,838 James Apr. 29, 1947 2,658,201 Sherwood Nov. 10, 1953 2,661,481 Goodfield Dec. 8, 1953 

